Issa: Obama Games the System with Executive Order

April 21, 2011

Washington, DC – The President intends to ask companies that do business with the federal government to disclose contributions to some issue advocacy groups, exempting labor unions or special interest groups who are expected to make significant efforts on behalf of his reelection, according to a draft executive order circulated by the White House this week.

“Yet again, the President is playing political games while simultaneously claiming that he has put partisanship aside. This draft executive order would advance the interests of the President’s party and the special interest groups who support him, and ultimately his own reelection” said Darrell Issa, R-Calif., chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. “This rule does not impose the same requirements on the labor unions, which support the President. Furthermore, it risks politicizing the procurement process.”

In the wake of the landmark Citizens United v. FEC Supreme Court decision, the Democratically-led Congress defeated the DISCLOSE Act which would have imposed the same restrictions on business.

“At worst, the President hopes to silence opposition and dissent. At best, he is attempting to do what neither the last democratic congress nor this current congress would do- circumvent a decision of the Supreme Court and violate the spirit of the First Amendment,” Issa said.

Issa continued: “The administration is attempting to achieve through regulation what they couldn’t accomplish through legislation. This sleight of hand cannot continue as the President makes promises to work together while simultaneously circumventing the will of Congress.”